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a complete remodelling of tissue on a new design. The 

 remaining division includes those growths which bear a 

 recognisable resemblance to the tissues whence they spring — 

 a resemblance to the tissue in its rudimental state, but still 

 at a stage after differentiation has commenced. From this 

 last group, which is the least malignant, we pass by an easy 

 gradation to simple hypertrophy. 



The order in which I have arranged my divisions, like all 

 arrangements in straight lines, is unnatural ; but the groups 

 seem to me to include all those growths known as cancers. 

 But in neither of the three classes, speaking broadly, do we 

 find any structure histologically in advance of gland-structure. 

 And as these masses do not occu])y themselves with storing 

 oil, or sarcous matter, or elastic tissue, we are led to believe 

 that as they grow they pour out a large quantity of fluid 

 secretion into the blood, the effect of which we have some 

 means of judging. 



A growth of this nature makes its appearance in a healthy 

 man ; it may create no interference from its position, and its 

 size may be inconsiderable ; still we see disturbances in the 

 nutrition — or rather assimilation and secretion — of every 

 part of that man's body, and he Avastes and dies. Are we to 

 believe that death results from the drain on the system ? 1 

 think not. The malignancy is not in proportion to the size 

 of the tumour, and in chronic suppuration we have a far 

 greater drain on the system, and yet life is not so quickly 

 destroyed. Yet in this exaggerated nuclear growth there 

 must be activity. Can one help suspecting that we are deal- 

 ing with a poison-gland specially provided for elaborating 

 and lettiiag loose into the blood a secretion which produces 

 mal-assimilation throughout the body ? 



Let us invert the picture, and imagine instead of a cancer 

 an ovary or testicle. The blood flows through these glands, 

 bearing with it secretions from every tissue of the body. Is 

 is difficult to understand how the resulting product of the 

 ovum and spermatozoon may inherit the peculiarities of both 

 parents? The notion is, I think, preferable to Mr. Darwin's 

 modern theory of Pangenesis. 



It will be seen that I think it fair to suppose that every 

 tissue has, in different degree, the function which we have 

 assigned to the ductless glands. These vascular secreting- 

 stations, I consider, ought to take a position physiologically 

 (not histologically) by the side of adipose tissue. Fat, we 

 know, is ordinarily of little use ; but each store-cell of which 

 it is composed has a permanent nucleus, and in times of 

 dearth Ave find it unlading and furnishing fuel for further 



